When you suddenly find that the fuel gauge light is on while driving, you may feel a little panicked. This little red light means that your car is running out of fuel, but how far can you drive further? Don't worry, this is not an immediate stop. For most family cars, the fuel gauge light is lit and there is usually between 5 and 9 litres of fuel left. In the city, this is enough for you to find the nearest gas station; If you're on a highway and driving at fuel-efficient speeds, most models will allow you to drive to the next service area. So, although the fuel gauge light is on, there is no need to be too nervous.
When the fuel gauge light is on, how far can you drive? This is a problem that every driver can have. Generally speaking, when this little red light is on, you can safely drive a short distance, and the exact value varies depending on the vehicle type and your driving habits.
For most family cars, the fuel gauge light when it comes on usually means that there are about 5 to 6 liters of gas left in the tank, while if you're driving an SUV, this figure can be between 7 and 9 liters. While it doesn't sound like much, this surplus amount of fuel is enough for most emergencies, especially in cities where gas stations are everywhere.
Driving in the city, you don't need to panic at all if the fuel gauge light just comes on. In practice, you'll usually be able to drive about 50 to 60 kilometers even after a minimum fuel warning, which is more than enough to find the nearest gas station. However, if you're on the highway, the situation is a little more complicated. On highways, the distance between gas stations is longer, which requires you to have more foresight.
If you know the route you're going to take, once the fuel gauge light comes on, the best thing to do is to check the GPS as soon as possible to determine where the nearest service area is. Most of the time, the distribution of service areas is reasonable, about one every 50 to 100 kilometers, so as soon as the fuel gauge light comes on, you should start planning stops to refuel.
In addition, there are some fuel-efficient tips that can be taken while driving. For example, maintaining a constant speed and controlling the speed at 90 kilometers per hour is an ideal fuel-efficient speed. Try to avoid frequent acceleration and hard braking, which can significantly increase fuel consumption. Another tip is to turn off the air conditioner as much as possible, as the air conditioner will increase the load on the engine while it is running, which will consume more fuel.
Regarding the impact of the fuel gauge light on the oil pump, there is a misconception that too low the oil volume will damage the oil pump. In fact, this is extremely rare. The main function of the oil pump is to deliver the oil from the oil tank to the engine, and as long as the oil pump can pump the oil normally, there will be no damage. Of course, it is not recommended to frequently let the oil volume be low to the limit, which may indeed increase the pressure of the oil pump, which may affect its life in the long run.
But either way, you still have to judge according to your own specific situation. If you don't drive much mileage every day, it's not a big problem to go refueling when the fuel gauge light turns on once in a while. Conversely, if you need to drive long hours every day, or often need to drive in remote areas, it is safer to keep your tank at least half full.
In any case, when the fuel gauge light is on, it reminds you not only that you are running out of gas, but also a warning about safe driving and planning ahead. On the premise of ensuring driving safety, reasonable arrangement of refueling time and route will make your driving experience smoother and more secure. So, the next time the fuel gauge light comes on again, hopefully you already know what to do and don't feel overwhelmed.
Source: Baidu Yuyang said
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